MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR THE HONORABLE THOMAS MICHAEL SHANAHAN NEBRASKA SUPREME COURT AND THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT, DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA Monday, April 9, 2012 3:00 P.M. Roman L. Hruska U.S. Courthouse Omaha, Nebraska 2 MARSHAL MARK MARTINEZ: The Honorable Judges of the United States Courts and the Honorable Justices of the Nebraska Supreme Court. Hear ye; hear ye; hear ye. The United States District Court for the District of Nebraska and the Nebraska Supreme Court are now convened in ceremonial session. The Honorable Laurie Smith Camp, Chief Judge, and the Honorable Michael Heavican, Chief Justice, are presiding. God save the United States and these Honorable Courts. CHIEF JUDGE SMITH CAMP: Thank you, Marshal Martinez. And welcome to the celebration of the life and career of Judge Tom Shanahan. You can see that this ceremony is hosted both by the Nebraska Supreme Court and by the U.S. District Court because both courts claim Judge Shanahan as one of our own. I'm Laurie Smith Camp, Chief Judge of the federal District Court, and it's my honor to share the bench with Chief Justice Michael Heavican of the Nebraska Supreme Court. In a moment, the Chief Justice will be introducing the other members of the state court bench. But first we want to welcome Judge Shanahan's family. Starting with his beloved wife of 55 years, Jane Shanahan. And Jane, there you are. Thank you. My eyes are not as good as what they used to be. With her, other members of the family. And Jane, if your other family members would like to introduce themselves for the record, then the record will reflect who was here today. 3 MR. SHANAHAN: I'm Tim Shanahan, Tom's son. MS. SHANAHAN: Mary Beth, Tom and Jane's daughter. CHIEF JUDGE SMITH CAMP: Very good. Welcome. Also with us today are several of Judge Shanahan's former law clerks, his judicial assistant, and his court reporter. His court reporter, Sue DeVetter, can't stand up and wave to you because she is making a record in this case. But the other members of Judge Shanahan's former staff can stand if they would. And if you would tell us your name, your position that you held with Judge Shanahan's chambers, when you worked for him, and if you wish, you can tell us what you're doing now. We would like to make a record of those of you who are here. MS. HANSEN: Cindy Hansen. I was Judge Shanahan's secretary and now I'm retired but I miss him a lot and he was the perfect boss. CHIEF JUDGE SMITH CAMP: Thank you, Cindy. MR. SHARP: John Sharp. I was a law clerk from 2001 to 2004. Stayed in touch with the Judge. Wonderful man and I learned a lot from him about both the law and life. Miss him very much. CHIEF JUDGE SMITH CAMP: Thank you, John. MR. SCHULLER: Bob Schuller. I was a law clerk for the Judge, Nebraska Supreme Court, 1986-1987. All -- I second all the comments. A great man. CHIEF JUDGE SMITH CAMP: Thank you. 4 JUDGE BURNS: Tim Burns. I was a law clerk for Judge Shanahan from 1984 to 1985. I had the honor of him swearing me in as a District Court judge last August. I just echo what everybody else is saying, what a wonderful mentor he was and what a wonderful position I had with him to be able to work with him for a year right after law school. MR. ENGDAHL: I'm K.C. Engdahl, practice here in Omaha. I clerked for Judge Shanahan in 1984-85. Thought the world of the man. I was not sworn in by him but I was sworn at by him. And the further I get away from that time frame I realize more he was an amazing man. Amazing man. He really was. I learned a great deal from him. MR. ZWART: Dave Zwart. I was a law clerk from 1991 to 1992. Same sentiments. Enjoyed my year with the judge very much. Learned a great deal. He didn't swear me into the Nebraska Bar but he did tell me I flunked the bar before he told me I passed. MR. WIGHTMAN: My name is Jack Wightman. I clerked for the judge in 1992 and '93 on the Nebraska Supreme Court, the last year he was on the Court before he went onto the federal bench. I'm now a lawyer here in Omaha with First Data. And I really enjoyed my year working for the Judge. It was very educational as well as very entertaining. MS. JUSTER: I'm Sara Juster. I clerked with Jack at the Nebraska Supreme Court from '92 to '93. Judge was an 5 incredible teacher and mentor and I'll miss him a lot. And I'm currently with Methodist Health System as Vice President of Compliance. MS. GOLD: I'm Julia Gold and I clerked for the judge from 1995 to 2001, here, in this building. And he kept me laughing the entire time. And I learned something new every day. MS. WOODWARD: Sheila Woodward. I clerked for the judge from 1995 to 1997, in the old building. I'm enjoying these new digs quite a bit, wish I could have worked here. I'm now an attorney in Yankton, South Dakota. My favorite Judge Shanahan story is he walked into my office one day and asked me if I owned a legal thesaurus. I said, "No." He said, "I didn't think so" and he slammed one down on my desk and walked back into his office. MS. GOSSIN JENSEN: I'm Jill Gossin Jensen. I clerked for the Judge at the Nebraska Supreme Court from '93 to '94, and then for the six months left on our time at the federal District Court here. And there's too many -- too many stories. CHIEF JUDGE SMITH CAMP: Have we missed anyone? Please. MS. GRIESS: I'm Kathy Griess. I was Judge Shanahan's first courtroom deputy. And now I'm Judge Bataillon's courtroom deputy. But the judge was just a wonderful man and we miss him and I echo everyone's sentiments. 6 MS. VEYLUPEK: I'm Pat Veylupek. I was Judge Shanahan's second courtroom deputy. He was a joy to work for. Absolutely a fantastic person. Good teacher. And I too echo everybody else's sentiments. He was wonderful. MR. MASTELLER: My name's Jim Masteller. I clerked for Judge Shanahan '99 to 2001, here in the U.S. District Court. The first year it was actually in the old building and we moved the second year to this building, which was quite a step up. He was a great boss to work for. I'm currently with the County Attorney's Office. CHIEF JUDGE SMITH CAMP: Anyone we've missed? Well, we all know that Judge Shanahan loved the people he worked with, his staff members, like members of his own family. There are three other special guests, good friends of Judge Shanahan's, that I want to acknowledge at this point in time. W. Don Nelson is with us today. And I found out today that he is the publisher of the Prairie Fire - The Progressive Voice of the Great Plains, which I intend to read from now on. Also Dean Larry Raful, the dean of Touro Law School, Long Island, who is a former dean of Creighton Law School. And welcome, Dean. And Judge Bob Pratt, U.S. District Judge from the Southern District of Iowa. Welcome to all of you. At this time I'll ask the Chief Justice if he would please 7 introduce the members of the state court bench. CHIEF JUSTICE HEAVICAN: Thank you, Judge Smith Camp, very much. I'm going to introduce the members of the Nebraska Supreme Court, first by order of seniority on the Court. And they might either raise their hand or stand briefly as I do so. First of all, Justice John Wright, Justice William Connolly, Justice Kenneth Stephan, Justice Michael McCormack, Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman. And then I would also like to introduce members of the Nebraska Court of Appeals who are with us today. First of all, Judge William Cassell, Judge Michael Pirtle, and Judge John Irwin. And I believe I've got all the members of those two courts. If I missed anybody, please say something now. I would also like to introduce Betty Connolly, the wife of Justice Bill Connolly; and Mary Kay McCormack, the wife of Justice Mike McCormack. And if there are other wives, I apologize; I don't have you down here today. Thank you all. CHIEF JUDGE SMITH CAMP: Thank you, Chief Justice. Well, I will introduce the members of the federal bench, not in order of seniority or in rank, but in order of beauty, and you can decide whether I'm going in the ascending order or... We'll start with Judge Joe Bataillon. 8 JUDGE BATAILLON: Oh, jeez. CHIEF JUDGE RILEY: Well, we know now. CHIEF JUDGE SMITH CAMP: Judge John Gerrard; Senior Judge Warren Urbom; Senior Judge Lyle Strom; Senior Judge Rich Kopf; the Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Bill Riley; the Senior Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, Arlen Beam; Magistrate Judge Tom Thalken; Magistrate Judge Cheryl Zwart; Magistrate Judge F.A. Gossett; and Bankruptcy Judge Tim Mahoney. JUDGE MAHONEY: I win. CHIEF JUDGE SMITH CAMP: Just as the state courts and the federal courts both claim Judge Shanahan as one of our own, all three of the congressional districts in Nebraska claim Judge Shanahan as one of their own.